Money well spent

THE successful introduction of Tomasz Radzinski into an Everton team beginning to make some encouraging progress might appear to be a tribute to the scout who recommended the Canadian striker to the Blues.

THE successful introduction of Tomasz Radzinski into an Everton team beginning to make some encouraging progress might appear to be a tribute to the scout who recommended the Canadian striker to the Blues.

The truth is, it is full credit to Walter Smith that he not only decided the player had the potential to make an impact in the Premiership, but also refused to give up when the negotiations became protracted and frustrating.

Signing players from the Continent can be a tricky business. Sometimes there is a temptation to try and persuade the selling club to allow the player to come across for a few days and let key individuals see him close up.

I was never very keen on this unless I had previously seen the player in a realistic match situation. You can't judge someone in a practice game on the training ground or even a reserves match.

Unfortunately, a manager tracking a foreign star just does not have time to take in game after game to make sure they are not making a costly mistake. You can't trust video footage and you worry about making a hasty decision.

The selling club does everything it can to put you under pressure. Ironically, Saturday's Goodison visitors Newcastle were suddenly linked with Radzinski when negotiations seemed to be floundering.

I don't think there was anything in it, but it's amazing how such misinformation suddenly appears in the media. I'm sure it had nothing to do with Newcastle. It was probably fed from another source as Anderlecht tried to up the stakes.

Evertonians began to wonder if the Blues would ever sign the Canadian. Some wanted the club to increase the bid, others became increasingly worried about the player's true quality, simply because no other club appeared to seriously rival the Blues for his signature.

But there were also work permit difficulties to overcome and in the end Walter Smith's persistence and his obvious belief in the player paid dividends.

I think you can judge Radzinski's early impact by the fact that no-one is talking about the #4.5m fee. People only do that when a big signing struggles.

Hopefully the striker can maintain the form he has shown and grab a few more important goals. During his frustrating injury lay-off the fans began to focus on the potential of Kevin Campbell and Duncan Ferguson playing together and bombarding opponents.

In the few games they played it did not look as if it could work. Both were going for the same ball, no-one was going in behind.

Full credit to Radzinski that the big question now appears which of the big two will partner him.

It will be interesting to compare him tomorrow with Newcastle's pacy front man Craig Bellamy, who is also very lively.

It's a big game for Everton and if they can secure three points the league table could look quite interesting on Saturday night.

Second's chance is full of risk >

CLUBS who have jumped in after sacking a manager and appointed the second in command are beginning to realise the error of their ways.

I'm not suggesting there are not some very good coaches out there who can make the step up. It's just full-time management is totally different from full-time coaching.

When there is a change at the top there is often a short period in which results improve as players look at themselves and raise their game. The man holding the fort benefits from this and chairmen are sometimes tempted to make the situation permanent.

But as Southampton found out with Stuart Gray, the honeymoon can quickly turn sour. Gray is suddenly out and the more experienced Gordon Strachan has been brought in.

The next club in line is Birmingham City, who have sacked Trevor Francis. Mick Mills and Jim Barron are doing a good job and results have improved.

It would be easy for the chairman to think he has suddenly found the answer, but he must be absolutely certain.

West Ham manager Glen Roeder was another appointed from within who has just come through a vital week considering the way chairmen have been jumping from one conclusion to another.

Two home wins for Roeder have settled things down but the pressure would have been on him if he had not picked up those victories.

I think it's different when you are appointing the second in command at a successful club. Liverpool appointed from within throughout the seventies and eighties and the success continued.

But in pressure situations, there is a lot more to management than meets they eye, as chairmen very quickly realise.